Editor’s note: Our election coverage will be funded primarily by our paid subscribers and we will need extra funds to ensure we can provide coverage of these races in addition to covering other stories about our community. You can support us for as little as $3 a month. If you value the work that we do and having comprehensive election coverage in local races, click here.

Municipal elections are just around the corner and qualifying for local races begins on Aug. 19 in Decatur, Avondale Estates and Tucker.

With numerous seats on the ballot — including a School Board race in Decatur — we will need candidates to help us help them connect with voters. If you’re running for office and planning to qualify next week, go ahead and send us your campaign announcements: editor@decaturish.com.

Be sure to list what seat you are running for, the URL of your campaign website and any other information you think voters should know. Also, don’t forget to send us a picture, preferably a 640 by 420 photo.

Decaturish will organize forums for the Decatur races and will provide coverage of the other races. Our coverage will include a Q&A with all the candidates, articles about the various forums and running letters to the editor from the candidates or their supporters. We will also provide live coverage of election results on election night, Nov. 5.

Voter registration for this year’s municipal elections will end Oct. 7. Early voting will start on Oct. 14.

To learn how to qualify to run for office in Decatur, click here. The opening dates for qualifying in Decatur will start Monday, August 19, beginning at 8:30 A.M., and continue until Wednesday, August 21, at 4:30 P.M. Candidates can qualify at City Hall, located at 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA. The qualifying fee to run for City Commission is $360.00 and the qualifying fee for Board of Education members is $35.00.

Seats on the Decatur ballot this year are:

One City Commissioner from Election District 1, Post B

One City Commissioner from Election District 2, Post B

One City Commissioner from Election District at Large

One Decatur Board of Education member from Election District 1, Post B

One Decatur Board of Education member from Election District 2, Post B

One Decatur Board of Education member, At-Large (Editor’s note: The election for this seat will be to finish Annie Caiola’s term. The winner of this election will have to run for another four-year term after serving a short two-year term.)

To learn how to qualify to run for office in Avondale Estates, click here and here. Qualifying takes place at City Hall, located at 21 North Avondale Plaza, Avondale Estates. Qualifying dates are August 19 through Aug. 23, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Qualifying fees are $216 for Mayoral candidates and $144 for City Commission candidates. There will be elections for two City Commission seats and an election for mayor. There are no districts in Avondale. Each City Commission race is citywide election.

According to the city of Tucker, qualifying for municipal elections there begins Aug. 19, 9 a.m. and closes on Aug. 23 at noon. The qualifying fee for council members is $420 and candidates can qualify by visiting Tucker City Hall, located at 4119 Adrian St, Tucker, GA 30084. To learn more about running for office in Tucker, click here. There will be three seats on the ballot in Tucker: Post 2 District 1, Post 2 District 2, and Post 2 District 3. To view a map of Tucker City Council districts, click here.

If you care about your local government and community, think you have something to contribute and have the time to devote to public service, please consider running.